American Experience: The Rockefellers, Part 2 (2000)

Synopsis
by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Part two of The Rockefellers chronicles the efforts of John Rockefeller Jr. to rebuild the family's reputation by various acts of philanthropy. Burdened by his father's wealth, he poured money into a number of projects including the Museum of Modern Art, a medical college in China, and Radio City Music Hall. Rockefeller also attempted to instill the same rectitude in his sons. Laurance became a venture capitalist and conservationist, while Winthrop was elected governor of Arkansas; David served as the CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank while John Rockefeller III became an expert on Asian affairs. The highest profile, however, belonged to the second son, Nelson, who served as governor of New York four times, attempted to run for the presidency, and became Vice President under Gerald Ford. In 1976, a number of third-generation Rockefellers wrote a tell-all book critically detailing the internal workings of the family. A number of deaths within the Rockefeller family during the 1970s, however, renewed the family's commitment to philanthropic activities.